Spacer deck for cylinder block

ABSTRACT

A spacer deck for an engine cylinder block comprising two plates between the top deck of the cylinder block and the bottom deck of the cylinder head, the lower plate utilized as a resilient seating member for a cylinder liner flange while the upper plate serves as a spacer.

United States Patent Fangman et a].

1 51 Apr. 4, 1972 [54] SPACER DECK FOR CYLINDER BLOCK [72] Inventors:Charles N. Fangman; Walter R. Gutzwiller, both of Peoria, Ill. [73]Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, 111.

[22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1969 211 App]. No.2 808,473

[52] US. Cl .Q. ..123/l93, 123/4l.84 [51] Int. Cl ..F02f 1/10 [58] Fieldof Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,396,711 8/1968Fangmanetal. ..'.l23/l93 926,540 6/1909 Blomgren ..123/41.s4 2,703,0773/1955 Antonsen ..123/193 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 175,409 1/1950Austria ..l23/41.84 175,738 2/1922 GreatBritain ..123/4l.84

Primary Examiner-Wendell E. Burns Attorney-Fryer, Tjensvold, Feix,Phillips & Lempio [57] ABSTRACT A spacer deck for an engine cylinderblock comprising two plates between the top deck of the cylidder blockand the bottom deck of the cylinder head, the lower plate utilized as aresilient seating member for a cylinder liner flange while the upperplate serves as a spacer.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 4 m2 3.653.369

INVENTORS CHARLES N. FANGMAN WALTER R. GUTZWILLER ATTORNEYS BACKGROUNDAND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION High cylinder pressures ofmodern internalcombustion engines have necessitated use of higher bolt torques toeffect good gas seals and reasonable gasket life. The increased cylinderhead bolt torque and cylinder pressures present in high combustionpressure engines cause severe problems in conventional engines, whereinthe cylinder liner is placed in a counterbore in the top deck of theblock, by causing liner ledge and flange cracking.

In US. Pat. No. 3,396,711, issued Aug. 13, 1968, and assigned to theassignee hereof, a design is shown wherein the cylinder liner flange issealed on the top deck of the block and a plate surrounding theliner-flange acts as a spacer between the block top deck and the headbottom deck. That design has alleviated the notch stresses which causeledge and flange cracking, but, in some cases, the sealing of combustiongases remains a problem.

Liner projection, which is that portion of the liner flange extendingabove the block counterbore or top surface of a spacer plate, isprovided to compress the cylinder head gasket between the liner flangeand the cylinder head, producing a combustion seal. However, projectiontolerances cause variation in gasket preload from cylinder to cylinder,and, when combined with cylinder head distortion from high cylinderpressures and cyclic loads, combustion gas leakage often results.

In the present invention, two plates are positioned between the top deckof the cylinder block and the bottom deck of the cylinder head. Thelower plate has bores therein which register with the cylinder bores,but are of smaller diameter so that the liner flange is mounted on theplate in such a way that the flange does not extend radially outwardlyso as to be over the upper deck of the cylinder block. In this mannerthe lower plate is utilized as a resilient seal and seat for thecylinder liner flange, while an upper plate serves as a spacer.

Allowing the lower plate to extend over the bore in the cylinder blockcreates a stiff spring effect which, when the spring is loaded by thecylinder head pressing on the top of the liner flange, retains the lineragainst the lower plate which is seated on the lower deck of thecylinder head, regardless of the distortions which take place when theengine is operating. The spring rate of the plate urges each lineragainst the cylinder head with a uniform force, permitting sealing to beless sensitive to variations in liner projections while allowing lesstorque to be required for securing the cylinder head.

The design disclosed herein may be used on a cast iron block or analuminum block and the spacer plate itself, while steel is preferred,might be made from aluminum or other metal. The thickness of the plateis determined by the amount offorce required for sealing.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to produce an improvedspacer deck for engine cylinder blocks.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a spacer deck whichresiliently supports a cylinder liner and retains the liner against thelower deck of the cylinder head, regardless of the distortions whichtake place due to engine operation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a spacer deck whichcauses the cylinder liner to be biased against the cylinder head with auniform force.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a spacer deckwherein sealing between a cylinder liner and the head lower deck is lesssensitive to variations to liner projections.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description and claims as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing which, by way of iilustration, shows a preferredembodiment of the present invention and principles thereof and what isnow considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying theseprinciples. It is recognized that other embodiments of the inventionutilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used, and structuralchanges may be made as desired by those skilled in the art, withoutdeparting from the present invention and purview of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectionalview of an engine cylinder block and cylinder head assemblyincorporating the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of part of theassembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1, there is shown a block and head assembly10 of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. The assembly includesa cylinder block 12 which is of conventional design and which presents acomparatively flat top surface 14. Formed in the block 12 and opening atthe surface 14, are a plurality of aligned cylinder bores 16, one ofwhich is shown.

A thin steel plate 18 is placed upon the surface 14' of the top deck 20of the cylinder block and has substantially the same shape as the topdeck.

An aperture 22 in the plate receives the outer diameter 24 of a cylinderliner 26, and a flange 28 of the liner rests upon a surface 30 of theplate 18. The diameter of aperture 22 of plate 18 is smaller than thatof cylinder bore 16 so that the plate extends in a cantilevered fashionover the edges of the bores.

A spacer plate 32 is mounted on surface 30 of the plate 18,

the spacer plate being of a lesser thickness than the flange 28.

A compressible gasket 33 is positioned on the upper surface of plate 32.

A cylinder head 34 rests directly upon a top surface 36 of liner 26 toproduce a static seal.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 2, a groove 38 is provided in the spacerplate 32 and a seal 40 is installed in the groove so as to prevent theentrance of water, oil, etc., into the combustion chamber 42 in thecylinder liner.

Bolts 44, or other suitable means such as studs, may be used to securethe head 34 to the block. Torquing of the bolts or studs causes thecylinder head to press the flange 32 against the extended portion ofplate 18 and the resiliency of the cantilevered portion of the platethus permits retention of the liner against the cylinder head at apredetermined force.

Thus the Applicants have disclosed a spacer deck for engine cylinderblocks which obviates liner ledge and flange cracking while providingsatisfactory sealing of combustion gases.

What is claimed is:

1. A spacer deck for an engine block having a top surface and at leastone cylinder bore opening at the top surface, the deck comprising aplate adapted for seating on the top surface, the plate being formedwith an aperture positioned coaxially with the cylinder bore but havinga smaller diameter than the cylinder bore, the aperture being adapted toencircle a cylinder liner and provide the sole support for the cylinderliner which projects into the cylinder bore, a spacer plate beingmounted on said plate, the spacer plate surrounding a flange on thecylinder liner and being of a lesser thickness than the liner flange.

2. A seal mounted in a groove of the spacer plate described in claim 1,the groove situated adjacent a liner flange receiving aperture in thespacer plate so that the seal bears against the intersection of thecylinder flange and a cylinder head lower deck to seal the combustionchamber within the cylinder.

3. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with a topdeck and a cylinder head with a lower deck, at least one bore in thecylinder block receiving a cylinder liner therein, the cylinder linerhaving a flange thereon which extends above the top deck of the blockand to the lower deck of the head means situated on the top deck of theblock supporting the liner flange in cantilever fashion within the bore,the supporting means being a relatively resilient member, a spacer meansmounted on the supporting means and surrounding, but

being of lesser thickness than the liner flange, and means fixing thecylinder head to the cylinder block so that the resilient supportingmember retains the liner flange in abutment with the lower deck of thehead with a predetermined force.

4. The engine of claim 3 including sealing means mounted 5 in thespacing means for sealing the intersection of the lower deck of theblock and the liner flange.

1. A spacer deck for an engine block having a top surface and at leastone cylinder bore opening at the top surface, the deck comprising aplate adapted for seating on the top surface, the plate being formedwith an aperture positioned coaxially with the cylinder bore but havinga smaller diameter than the cylinder bore, the aperture being adapted toencircle a cylinder liner and provide the sole support for the cylinderliner which projects into the cylinder bore, a spacer plate beingmounted on said plate, the spacer plate surrounding a flange on thecylinder liner and being of a lesser thickness than the liner flange. 2.A seal mounted in a groove of the spaCer plate described in claim 1, thegroove situated adjacent a liner flange receiving aperture in the spacerplate so that the seal bears against the intersection of the cylinderflange and a cylinder head lower deck to seal the combustion chamberwithin the cylinder.
 3. In an internal combustion engine having acylinder block with a top deck and a cylinder head with a lower deck, atleast one bore in the cylinder block receiving a cylinder liner therein,the cylinder liner having a flange thereon which extends above the topdeck of the block and to the lower deck of the head means situated onthe top deck of the block supporting the liner flange in cantileverfashion within the bore, the supporting means being a relativelyresilient member, a spacer means mounted on the supporting means andsurrounding, but being of lesser thickness than the liner flange, andmeans fixing the cylinder head to the cylinder block so that theresilient supporting member retains the liner flange in abutment withthe lower deck of the head with a predetermined force.
 4. The engine ofclaim 3 including sealing means mounted in the spacing means for sealingthe intersection of the lower deck of the block and the liner flange.